The Black Triangle of Quercy

The destination Cahors - Lot Valley has a well-hidden treasure: a starry sky of pure and striking beauty. Called "Quercy's Black Triangle", this geographical area - located within the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park - has an amazingly preserved sky ensuring incredible views of the stars and other celestial objects.

F. Vayssiere

Welcome to the kingdom of stars

Dreams full of eyes and head in the stars...

Have you ever dreamed of spending an evening surrounded by loved ones, or alone with yourself, to observe the luminous stars located on the immense black canvas of our galaxy? Have you ever felt your heart tighten with emotion at the vastness of the universe? Have you ever been amazed at the infinite number of stars, realizing that we are ultimately very little?

If you have ever had the chance to contemplate the Milky Way, you know that it is an unforgettable and moving spectacle. The destination Cahors – Vallée du Lot offers you a unique opportunity to admire the stars and planets as you have never seen them before! Come live this moment out of time in the Black triangle, voted "Best sky in France" the heart of Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park.

The “Black Triangle” Qu'es aquò? 

In 2002, a map of the quality of night skies in France was published: above the Causses du Quercy, a black triangle appears between Rocamadour and the Célé Valley… This dark area turns out to have the lowest light pollution in mainland France, largely explained by the absence of a city and the limited number of villages in this region. In this triangle appears a precious heritage: a dark sky with billions of silver gleams. While a large part of the world's population no longer has access to this celestial treasure because of light pollution from urban areas, the black triangle offers you the possibility of rediscovering this same sky that your ancestors once observed. . One of the priceless treasures that make up the richness of our territory ♥ 

The harmful effects of light pollution?

Beyond the inconvenience of no longer seeing the stars, light pollution has other more insidious effects on ecosystems. Indeed, the generalization of public lighting disturbs the fauna and flora which, like us, need a real night. 
In order to preserve this exceptional nocturnal heritage, several municipalities of the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park are committed to the process of preserving the darkness of the night by turning off their public lighting from a certain time and/or by installing more efficient candelabras. Other villages have also signed a charter for the protection of the environment and the night sky. To date, 32 municipalities in the Park have won the competition.

C.Cielsar

List of “Starred Towns and Villages”

Aujols, Beauregard, Belmont-Sainte-Foi, Bouzies, Brengues, Cabrerets, Calès, Calvignac, Carlucet, Cénevières, Concots, Corn, Couzou, Cremps, Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie, Espedaillac, Flaujac-Poujols, Fontanes-du-Causse, Lalbenque, Larnagol, Le Bastit, Lentillac-du-Causse, Limogne-en-Quercy, Nadillac, Orniac, Puyjourdes, Saint-Chels, Saint-Martin-de-Vers, Saint-Sulpice, Sauliac-sur-Célé, Sénaillac-Lauzès and Vaylats. 

Where and how to enjoy this grandiose spectacle? 

C.Cielsar

Where ?

In the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park  of course, and more precisely from one of the “starred towns and villages”. Besides, if you have your own equipment, you will find observation sites with sky interpretation panels and places with telescopes in the villages of Limogne-en-Quercy, Reilhac, Miers and Carlucet. 

How? 'Or' What ?

With the naked eye or with a pair of binoculars!

Here, the purity of the sky already reveals a thousand wonders to anyone who looks up. The show is breathtaking: The constellations and the moon, of cours ! At least four planets : Venus (called "the evening star"), Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Some Deep Sky Objects : Orion nebula, the Pleiades cluster, the Andromeda galaxy... Shooting stars, satellites, the international space station...

With a telescope

Go further into the vastness of the sky and discover the jewels of the deep sky. If you don't have one, you can approach the astronomy clubs of Gigouzac or Gramat who organize observation workshops, conferences and outings for all audiences (simple contemplative or keen on astronomy).

Head in the stars !

Enjoy an evening of observation of the starry sky, entertainment under a nomadic planetarium or rocket-making activities for young and old.

MELLAC Raphael

Astronomy

Anima'ciel

CAHORS

Emmanuel THIERS 10 final match.

Astronomy

Astronomad

TOUR DE FAURE

A Lot stay!

To take full advantage of this exceptional sky, we have selected accommodation and activities for you in the heart of the natural park and which will put you Eyes full of stars !